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Buffoni L, Cano-Terriza D, Jiménez-Martín D, Jiménez-Ruiz S, Martínez-Moreno Á, Martínez-Moreno FJ, Zafra R, Pérez-Caballero R, Risalde MÁ, Gómez-Guillamón F, García-Bocanegra I. Serosurveillance of Trichinella sp. in wild boar and Iberian domestic suids in Mediterranean ecosystems of southwestern Spain. Zoonoses Public Health 2024; 71:191-199. [PMID: 38009293 DOI: 10.1111/zph.13098] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2023] [Revised: 11/02/2023] [Accepted: 11/13/2023] [Indexed: 11/28/2023]
Abstract
AIMS A cross-sectional study was carried out to assess the seroprevalence and risk factors associated with Trichinella spp. exposure in wild boar and Iberian domestic pigs from Mediterranean ecosystems of southwestern Spain. METHODS AND RESULTS Serum samples from 1360 wild boar and 439 Iberian domestic pigs were obtained during 2015-2020, from regions where Iberian pigs are raised under extensive conditions, hence sharing habitat with wild boar. Seropositivity was found in 7.4% (100/1360; 95% CI: 6.1-8.9) of the wild boar analysed. In this species, the individual seroprevalence ranged from 3.6% (8/223) (hunting season 2016-2017) to 11.4% (37/326) (2018-2019). A significant higher seropositivity was observed during the hunting season 2018-2019 (p < 0.009: OR = 3.07; 95% CI = 1.32-7.18) and one statistically significant cluster was detected within the studied area, in south central Andalusia [Relative Risk (RR) = 2.9; p = 0.037]. Females showed a significantly higher seroprevalence than males (8.7% vs. 5.8%) (p < 0.001: OR = 1.58; 95% CI = 1.08-2.32). No seropositivity to Trichinella spp. was detected in Iberian domestic pigs (0.0%; 95% CI: 0.0-0.9). CONCLUSIONS Although wild boar play an important role as a reservoir of Trichinella sp. in the Mediterranean ecosystems of southwestern Spain, our results suggest that the wild boar production system does not seem to pose a risk of Trichinella exposure to domestic pigs, despite sharing habitats in these ecosystems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leandro Buffoni
- Departamento de Sanidad Animal (Parasitología y Enfermedades Parasitarias), Universidad de Córdoba, Córdoba, Spain
| | - David Cano-Terriza
- Departamento de Sanidad Animal, Grupo de Investigación en Sanidad Animal y Zoonosis (GISAZ), UIC Zoonosis y Enfermedades Emergentes ENZOEM, Universidad de Córdoba, Córdoba, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Infecciosas (CIBERINFEC), Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII), Madrid, Spain
| | - Débora Jiménez-Martín
- Departamento de Sanidad Animal, Grupo de Investigación en Sanidad Animal y Zoonosis (GISAZ), UIC Zoonosis y Enfermedades Emergentes ENZOEM, Universidad de Córdoba, Córdoba, Spain
| | - Saúl Jiménez-Ruiz
- Departamento de Sanidad Animal, Grupo de Investigación en Sanidad Animal y Zoonosis (GISAZ), UIC Zoonosis y Enfermedades Emergentes ENZOEM, Universidad de Córdoba, Córdoba, Spain
- Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos (CIBIO)-Laboratório Associado (InBIO), Vairão, Portugal
| | - Álvaro Martínez-Moreno
- Departamento de Sanidad Animal (Parasitología y Enfermedades Parasitarias), UIC Zoonosis y Enfermedades Emergentes ENZOEM, Universidad de Córdoba, Córdoba, Spain
| | - Francisco Javier Martínez-Moreno
- Departamento de Sanidad Animal (Parasitología y Enfermedades Parasitarias), UIC Zoonosis y Enfermedades Emergentes ENZOEM, Universidad de Córdoba, Córdoba, Spain
| | - Rafael Zafra
- Departamento de Sanidad Animal (Parasitología y Enfermedades Parasitarias), UIC Zoonosis y Enfermedades Emergentes ENZOEM, Universidad de Córdoba, Córdoba, Spain
| | - Raúl Pérez-Caballero
- Departamento de Sanidad Animal (Parasitología y Enfermedades Parasitarias), Universidad de Córdoba, Córdoba, Spain
- Instituto de Investigación del SIDA, Fundación IrsiCaixa, Barcelona, Spain
| | - María Ángeles Risalde
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Infecciosas (CIBERINFEC), Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII), Madrid, Spain
- Departamento de Anatomía y Anatomía Patológica Comparadas y Toxicología, Grupo de Investigación GISAZ, UIC Zoonosis y Enfermedades Emergentes ENZOEM, Universidad de Córdoba, Córdoba, Spain
| | - Félix Gómez-Guillamón
- Programa de Vigilancia Epidemiológica en Fauna Silvestre (PVE), Consejería de Sostenibilidad, Medio Ambiente y Economía Azul, Junta de Andalucía, Málaga, Spain
| | - Ignacio García-Bocanegra
- Departamento de Sanidad Animal, Grupo de Investigación en Sanidad Animal y Zoonosis (GISAZ), UIC Zoonosis y Enfermedades Emergentes ENZOEM, Universidad de Córdoba, Córdoba, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Infecciosas (CIBERINFEC), Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII), Madrid, Spain
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Papatsiros VG, Athanasiou LV, Kostoulas P, Giannakopoulos A, Tzika E, Billinis C. Toxoplasma gondii Infection in Swine: Implications for Public Health. Foodborne Pathog Dis 2021; 18:823-840. [PMID: 34491108 DOI: 10.1089/fpd.2021.0039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Toxoplasmosis, due to Toxoplasma gondii, is a parasitic disease with global importance. Among livestock, chronic T. gondii infection has been reported in higher rates in pigs and small ruminants, but with subclinical infections in case commonly encountered in pigs. Seroprevalence in the global pig population ranges according to the age or species of pigs, geographical distribution, production programs, and systems. Generally, T. gondii infections are noticed in low prevalence rates in conventional pig farms with high hygiene standards. In contrast, higher prevalence is common on free-ranging farms, outdoor or backyard small pig fams, as well as in farmed or hunted wild boars. The T. gondii average worldwide seroprevalence in pigs is reported to be 13% in Europe, 21% in Africa, 25% in North America, 21% in Asia, and 23% in South America. Human toxoplasmosis outbreaks have been correlated with the consumption of raw or undercooked meat, especially from infected pigs or wild boars, as well as of contaminated drinking water. The risk of infection in processed pork products is lower compared with fresh pork, as meat processing can reduce or inactivate T. gondii tissue cysts. Hence, the prevalence of T. gondii in the pig population may be a useful indicator of the risk of human toxoplasmosis associated with the consumption of pork products. The lack of obligatory screening methods at farm level for the detection of antibodies in farmed animals or the viable T. gondii in carcasses at slaughterhouse level increases the risk of contaminated pork or meat products. For this reason, the application of biosecurity and surveillance programs at farm level is very important to prevent a T. gondii infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vasileios G Papatsiros
- Clinic of Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, School of Health Sciences, University of Thessaly, Karditsa, Greece
| | - Labrini V Athanasiou
- Clinic of Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, School of Health Sciences, University of Thessaly, Karditsa, Greece
| | - Polychronis Kostoulas
- Laboratory of Epidemiology & Artificial Intelligence, Faculty of Public Health, School of Health Sciences, University of Thessaly, Karditsa, Greece
| | - Alexios Giannakopoulos
- Department of Microbiology & Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, School of Health Sciences, University of Thessaly, Karditsa, Greece
| | - Eleni Tzika
- Farm Animal Clinic, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, School of Health Sciences, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Charalambos Billinis
- Department of Microbiology & Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, School of Health Sciences, University of Thessaly, Karditsa, Greece
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Fernández-Escobar M, Calero-Bernal R, Regidor-Cerrillo J, Vallejo R, Benavides J, Collantes-Fernández E, Ortega-Mora LM. Isolation, Genotyping, and Mouse Virulence Characterization of Toxoplasma gondii From Free Ranging Iberian Pigs. Front Vet Sci 2020; 7:604782. [PMID: 33330725 PMCID: PMC7714755 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2020.604782] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2020] [Accepted: 10/26/2020] [Indexed: 02/02/2023] Open
Abstract
The present study aimed to isolate and perform molecular and phenotypic characterization of Toxoplasma gondii strains infecting Iberian pigs bred under semi-free conditions and destined for human consumption. Blood and heart tissue samples from 361 fattening pigs from 10 various herds selected in the main areas of Iberian pig production were collected at a slaughterhouse; the sera were tested for anti-T. gondii antibodies using a commercial indirect ELISA kit, and a mouse bioassay was carried out using heart muscle of seropositive individual representatives from each geographical location. Seventy-nine (21.9%) of the 361 animals tested positive for anti-T. gondii antibodies according to the serology test. Fifteen samples of myocardial tissue were subjected to bioassay and 5 isolates (TgPigSp1 to TgPigSp5) were obtained. The isolates were characterized by using 11 PCR-RFLP genetic markers; three isolates had a ToxoDB #3 genotype (3/5) and two isolates had a ToxoDB #2 genotype (2/5). The TgPigSp1 and TgPigSp4 isolates were selected for virulence in mice characterization as instances of each different RFLP-genotype found. The TgPigSp1 isolate (#2 genotype) was virulent in mice with notable cumulative mortality (87.5%) and morbidity rates (100%); the TgPigSp4 (#3) was nonvirulent and triggered mild clinical signs in 42.1% of seropositive mice. Infection dynamics and organ distribution of both isolates were analyzed; the data revealed significant differences, including substantially higher parasite load in the lung during the acute phase of infection, in mice infected with TgPigSp1 than in the case of TgPigSp4 (median parasite load 7.6 vs. 0 zoites/mg, respectively; p < 0.05). Furthermore, degrees of severity of detected histopathological lesions appeared to be related to higher parasite burdens. Taking into account the unexpectedly high mortality rate and parasite load associated with the clonal genotype III, which is traditionally considered nonvirulent in mice, the need for further investigation and characterization of the T. gondii strains circulating in any host in Europe is emphasized.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mercedes Fernández-Escobar
- Salud Veterinaria y Zoonosis (SALUVET) Group, Animal Health Department, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, Complutense University of Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - Rafael Calero-Bernal
- Salud Veterinaria y Zoonosis (SALUVET) Group, Animal Health Department, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, Complutense University of Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - Javier Regidor-Cerrillo
- SALUVET-innova S.L., Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, Complutense University of Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - Raquel Vallejo
- Mountain Livestock Institute, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas-Universidad de León (CSIC-ULE), León, Spain
| | - Julio Benavides
- Mountain Livestock Institute, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas-Universidad de León (CSIC-ULE), León, Spain
| | - Esther Collantes-Fernández
- Salud Veterinaria y Zoonosis (SALUVET) Group, Animal Health Department, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, Complutense University of Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - Luis Miguel Ortega-Mora
- Salud Veterinaria y Zoonosis (SALUVET) Group, Animal Health Department, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, Complutense University of Madrid, Madrid, Spain
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Dubey JP, Cerqueira-Cézar CK, Murata FHA, Kwok OCH, Hill D, Yang Y, Su C. All about Toxoplasma gondii infections in pigs: 2009-2020. Vet Parasitol 2020; 288:109185. [PMID: 33271424 DOI: 10.1016/j.vetpar.2020.109185] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
Toxoplasma gondii infections are common in humans and animals worldwide. Toxoplasma gondii infection in pigs continues to be of public health concern. Pigs are important for the economy of many countries, particularly, USA, China, and European countries. Among the many food animals, pigs are considered the most important for T. gondii transmission in USA and China because viable parasites have rarely been isolated from beef or indoor raised chickens. Besides public health issues, T. gondii causes outbreaks of clinical toxoplasmosis in pigs in China, associated with a unique genotype of T. gondii (ToxoDB genotype #9 or Chinese 1), rarely found in other countries. The safety of ready to eat pork products with respect to T. gondii infection is a matter of recent debate. Here, we review in detail seroprevalence, prevalence of viable and nonviable T. gondii, epidemiology, risk assessment, diagnosis, and curing of pork products containing T. gondii for the past decade. This review will be of interest to biologists, parasitologists, veterinarians, and public health workers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jitender P Dubey
- United States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, Beltsville Agricultural Research Center, Animal Parasitic Diseases Laboratory, Beltsville, MD 20705-2350, USA.
| | - Camila K Cerqueira-Cézar
- United States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, Beltsville Agricultural Research Center, Animal Parasitic Diseases Laboratory, Beltsville, MD 20705-2350, USA
| | - Fernando H A Murata
- United States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, Beltsville Agricultural Research Center, Animal Parasitic Diseases Laboratory, Beltsville, MD 20705-2350, USA
| | - Oliver C H Kwok
- United States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, Beltsville Agricultural Research Center, Animal Parasitic Diseases Laboratory, Beltsville, MD 20705-2350, USA
| | - Dolores Hill
- United States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, Beltsville Agricultural Research Center, Animal Parasitic Diseases Laboratory, Beltsville, MD 20705-2350, USA
| | - Yurong Yang
- Laboratory of Veterinary Pathology, College of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450002, PR China
| | - Chunlei Su
- Department of Microbiology, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN 37996-0845, USA
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6
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Seroepidemiology of Toxoplasma gondii in extensively raised Iberian pigs in Spain. Prev Vet Med 2019; 175:104854. [PMID: 31790931 DOI: 10.1016/j.prevetmed.2019.104854] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2019] [Revised: 11/18/2019] [Accepted: 11/18/2019] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Pigs reared under extensive farming conditions are currently in high commercial demand because they are associated with high-quality products. Nevertheless, the risk of contact with different pathogens of animal and public health concern is also higher in extensive production systems. Toxoplasma gondii is a widely prevalent zoonotic pathogen and transmission by contaminated pork is likely one of the main routes of human toxoplasmosis. The aim of this study was to determine the seroprevalence, risk factors and spatial distribution of T. gondii on extensive Iberian pig herds in Spain. Sera from 2245 Iberian pigs from 114 herds were collected between 2015 and 2017 and analyzed using a commercial ELISA. The apparent individual prevalence of antibodies against T. gondii was 24.1 % (542/2245) and the estimated true seroprevalence was 24.3 % (CI95 %: 22.5-26.1). Seropositivity was detected in 86.0 % (98/114; CI95 %: 77.4-91.1) of 114 herds analyzed. A multi-level logistic regression model showed that T. gondii infection was significantly more frequent in sows than in fattening pigs (OR: 2.6; CI95 %: 1.5-4.8) and in herds with more than three cats compared to no cats (OR: 2.9; CI95 %: 1.1-8.7). Our results indicate a widespread but heterogenous distribution of T. gondii in extensively reared Iberian pig herds, which may have important implications for public health through the consumption of undercooked or improperly cured pork products.
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7
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Swanenburg M, Gonzales JL, Bouwknegt M, Boender GJ, Oorburg D, Heres L, Wisselink HJ. Large-scale serological screening of slaughter pigs for Toxoplasma gondii infections in The Netherlands during five years (2012-2016): Trends in seroprevalence over years, seasons, regions and farming systems. Vet Parasitol 2019; 276S:100017. [PMID: 32904761 PMCID: PMC7458374 DOI: 10.1016/j.vpoa.2019.100017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2019] [Revised: 08/14/2019] [Accepted: 08/14/2019] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
The seroprevalence of T. gondii in slaughter pigs was between 1.4% and 2.8%. The seroprevalence of T. gondii in slaughter pigs showed a peak in winter. Pigs from organic farms had a higher seroprevalence of T. gondii.
Toxoplasma gondii is the causative agent of the parasitic disease toxoplasmosis, which is an important foodborne zoonosis. Eating undercooked meat of infected animals, including pigs, has been considered the major transmission route of T. gondii to humans. Therefore, it is urgent to develop and implement intervention measures in the pork meat chain to reduce risks of acquiring a T. gondii infection. Proposed measures for control of T. gondii in pigs include serological testing of pigs and audits of pig farms on risk factors for T. gondii infection. So far, these ideas have not been tested in practice. In order to generate knowledge about the epidemiology and seroprevalence of T. gondii, as a basis for developing a surveillance system, we studied the long term seroprevalence over years, farming systems and regions, and seasonal patterns of T. gondii seroprevalence in Dutch slaughter pigs. During a five year study period from 2012 to 2016, serum samples were routinely collected in five Dutch pig slaughterhouses. The sera were tested in an ELISA for the presence of antibodies against Toxoplasma. In total 226,340 serum samples were collected and tested during the study period. The observed seroprevalence varied over years, with the highest overall seroprevalence in 2014 (2.8%) and the lowest in 2016 (1.4%). A higher seroprevalence was observed in pigs from organic farms compared to pigs from conventional farms. The overall risk of infection was on average 2.63 times significantly (p < 0.001) higher for organically raised pigs than for conventionally raised pigs. A seasonal pattern in seroprevalence was observed: the results showed a dominant annual periodicity with a seroprevalence peak in winter around week 1 and a minimum seroprevalence in summer around week 27. To our knowledge, this is the first large scale study on the seroprevalence of T. gondii in slaughter pigs. In comparison to other European serological studies, the observed seroprevalence seems to be relatively low. However, care is needed when comparing the results with other studies because of differences in test setup, the number of samples and time period of sampling. The results can be used as a starting point for developing a surveillance system for T. gondii, and for implementation of intervention measures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manon Swanenburg
- Wageningen Bioveterinary Research, P.O. Box 65, 8200 AB Lelystad, the Netherlands
- Corresponding author.
| | - Jose L. Gonzales
- Wageningen Bioveterinary Research, P.O. Box 65, 8200 AB Lelystad, the Netherlands
| | | | - Gert Jan Boender
- Wageningen Bioveterinary Research, P.O. Box 65, 8200 AB Lelystad, the Netherlands
| | - Derk Oorburg
- Vion, Boseind 15, 5281 RM Boxtel, the Netherlands
| | | | - Henk J. Wisselink
- Wageningen Bioveterinary Research, P.O. Box 65, 8200 AB Lelystad, the Netherlands
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Foroutan M, Fakhri Y, Riahi SM, Ebrahimpour S, Namroodi S, Taghipour A, Spotin A, Gamble HR, Rostami A. The global seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii in pigs: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Vet Parasitol 2019; 269:42-52. [PMID: 31079827 DOI: 10.1016/j.vetpar.2019.04.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 61] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2018] [Revised: 03/26/2019] [Accepted: 04/26/2019] [Indexed: 01/29/2023]
Abstract
Toxoplasmosis, caused by the protozoan parasite Toxoplasma gondii, is an important disease with worldwide distribution. Infection can occur from ingesting raw or undercooked infected meat, and among food animal species, pork is known to be one of the main sources of meat-borne infection. Here, we present results of the first systematic review and meta-analysis on the global T. gondii seroprevalence in pigs. PubMed/MEDLINE, Scopus, and EMBASE databases were comprehensively searched for relevant studies published between January 1, 1990 and October 25, 2018. We used a random effects model to calculate pooled seroprevalence estimates with 95% confidence intervals (CI) and analyzed data from five continents. We also conducted subgroup and meta-regression analyses to evaluate the effects of geographical and climate variables on pooled seroprevalence rates. Among 1542 publications identified, 148 studies containing 150 datasets were included in the meta-analysis, and comprised 148,092 pigs from 47 countries. The pooled global T. gondii seroprevalence in pigs was estimated to be 19% (95%CI, 17-22%; 23,696/148,092), with the lowest seroprevalence in Europe (13%; 10-15%) and highest seroprevalence in Africa (25%; 17-34%) and North America (25%; 19-33%). The seropositivity rates in Asia and South America regions were (21%, 16-26%) and (23%; 17-30%), respectively. A significantly higher T. gondii seroprevalence was associated with higher mean annual temperature and lower geographical latitude. The presence of cats on farms was identified as a potential risk factor for T. gondii seropositivity (OR, 1.41; 95%CI, 1.00-2.02). Our findings highlight the importance of pigs as a possible source of human T. gondii infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Masoud Foroutan
- Abadan School of Medical Sciences, Abadan, Iran; Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Yadolah Fakhri
- Department of Environmental Health Engineering, School of Public Health and Safety, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Seyed Mohammad Riahi
- Social Determinants of Health Research Center, Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Faculty of Health, Birjand University of Medical Sciences, Birjand, Iran
| | - Soheil Ebrahimpour
- Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine Research Center, Health Research Institute, Babol University of Medical Sciences, Babol, Iran
| | - Somayeh Namroodi
- Department of Environmental sciences, Faculty of Fisheries and Environmental sciences, Gorgan University of Agricultural Sciences & Natural Resources, Gorgan, Iran
| | - Ali Taghipour
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Adel Spotin
- Immunology Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran; Student Research Committee, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | - H Ray Gamble
- National Academy of Sciences, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Ali Rostami
- Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine Research Center, Health Research Institute, Babol University of Medical Sciences, Babol, Iran; mmunoregulation Research Center, Health Research Institute, Babol University of Medical Sciences, Babol, Iran.
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Pablos-Tanarro A, Ortega-Mora LM, Palomo A, Casasola F, Ferre I. Seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii in Iberian pig sows. Parasitol Res 2018. [DOI: 10.1007/s00436-018-5837-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/17/2022]
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Herrero L, Gracia MJ, Pérez-Arquillué C, Lázaro R, Herrera M, Herrera A, Bayarri S. Toxoplasma gondii: Pig seroprevalence, associated risk factors and viability in fresh pork meat. Vet Parasitol 2016; 224:52-59. [PMID: 27270390 DOI: 10.1016/j.vetpar.2016.05.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2016] [Revised: 05/05/2016] [Accepted: 05/10/2016] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
This study was conducted on 161 fattening pig farms located in Aragón (Northeast Spain). Serum samples from 1200 pigs were tested for antibodies against T. gondii by indirect immunofluorescence assay (IFA). Antibodies to T. gondii (≥1:20) were detected in 301 pigs (24.52%). The seroprevalence observed in the present study indicates a widespread exposure to T. gondii, as seropositive pigs were found in 96.67% of the farms studied although low pig titers were determined. Risk factors associated with T. gondii seroprevalence were presence of cats in or around the farms, presence of dogs around the facilities, low number of animals in the farms, poor hygiene and bad maintenance of the farms. Finally, it was observed that where rodent baits were used, Toxoplasma prevalence was lower. Risk management measures including control of cats and rodents on the farms, among others, could help to reduce the observed prevalence levels. By mouse bioassay, T. gondii was detected in 73.7% and isolated from 42.1% of seropositive pigs and a significant relation between the titers of pigs and the presence and viability of T. gondii in the tissues was found. The detection of T. gondii is not possible by currently practiced meat inspection. Nevertheless, the increased probability of detecting viable forms of T. gondii in tissues of pigs with titers ≥1: 80 could be used as the cutoff for discriminating higher risk animals, and could be used as an effective control tool for the industry of cured meat products. In practical terms, we propose that this value could be used as a critical limit in the HACCP system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Herrero
- Departamento de Producción Animal y Ciencia de los Alimentos, Facultad de Veterinaria, Instituto Agroalimentario de Aragón-IA2-(Universidad de Zaragoza-CITA), C/Miguel Servet 177, 50013 Zaragoza, Spain
| | - María Jesús Gracia
- Departamento de Patología Animal, Facultad de Veterinaria, Instituto Agroalimentario de Aragón-IA2-(Universidad de Zaragoza-CITA), C/Miguel Servet 177, 50013 Zaragoza, Spain
| | - Consuelo Pérez-Arquillué
- Departamento de Producción Animal y Ciencia de los Alimentos, Facultad de Veterinaria, Instituto Agroalimentario de Aragón-IA2-(Universidad de Zaragoza-CITA), C/Miguel Servet 177, 50013 Zaragoza, Spain
| | - Regina Lázaro
- Departamento de Producción Animal y Ciencia de los Alimentos, Facultad de Veterinaria, Instituto Agroalimentario de Aragón-IA2-(Universidad de Zaragoza-CITA), C/Miguel Servet 177, 50013 Zaragoza, Spain
| | - Marta Herrera
- Departamento de Producción Animal y Ciencia de los Alimentos, Facultad de Veterinaria, Instituto Agroalimentario de Aragón-IA2-(Universidad de Zaragoza-CITA), C/Miguel Servet 177, 50013 Zaragoza, Spain
| | - Antonio Herrera
- Departamento de Producción Animal y Ciencia de los Alimentos, Facultad de Veterinaria, Instituto Agroalimentario de Aragón-IA2-(Universidad de Zaragoza-CITA), C/Miguel Servet 177, 50013 Zaragoza, Spain
| | - Susana Bayarri
- Departamento de Producción Animal y Ciencia de los Alimentos, Facultad de Veterinaria, Instituto Agroalimentario de Aragón-IA2-(Universidad de Zaragoza-CITA), C/Miguel Servet 177, 50013 Zaragoza, Spain.
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Toxoplasma gondii Infection in Alpine Red Deer (Cervus elaphus): Its Spread and Effects on Fertility [corrected]. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0138472. [PMID: 26405785 PMCID: PMC4583299 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0138472] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2015] [Accepted: 08/31/2015] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
In contrast to the depth of knowledge on the pathological effects of parasitism in domestic animals, the impact of the vast majority of parasites on wildlife hosts is poorly understood and, besides, information from domestics is rarely usable to disclose the parasites' impact on free-ranging populations' dynamics. Here we use Toxoplasmosis as a study model since, until now, the infection process and the protozoan's effects in natural conditions has received little attention. We analysed 81 sera from red deer (Cervus elaphus) sampled in Italian Alps and through generalized linear models we evaluated (1) the epidemiological factors influencing T. gondii infection dynamics; (2) its impact on female fertility [corrected]. High seroprevalence of T. gondii infection was recorded in yearling (1 year-old; prevalence = 52.4%) and adult (>2 year-old; prevalence = 51.3%) red deer, while calves (<1 year-old) did not contract the infection suggesting horizontal transmission as the main route of infection. The stable prevalence between yearlings and adults and the higher serological titres of younger individuals lead to two alternative infection processes suggesting a difference between age classes or in acquiring the infection or in responding to the pathogen. No associations between T. gondii serological titres and pregnancy status was observed indicating no direct effect on the probability of being pregnant; nevertheless a relation between females' higher serological titres and lower foetal development emerged, suggesting potential effects of the parasite infection on deer reproduction. The results demonstrate high seroprevalence of T. gondii infection in free-ranging red deer and, furthermore, the effect on foetal development suggests the potential impact of the parasite on red deer fertility and thus on its population dynamics.
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Astorga RJ, Reguillo L, Hernández M, Cardoso-Toset F, Tarradas C, Maldonado A, Gómez-Laguna J. Serosurvey on Schmallenberg Virus and Selected Ovine Reproductive Pathogens in Culled Ewes From Southern Spain. Transbound Emerg Dis 2013; 61:4-11. [DOI: 10.1111/tbed.12188] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2013] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- R. J. Astorga
- Animal Health Department; Veterinary Faculty; University of Cordoba; Campus Universitario de Rabanales; Agrifood Campus of International Excellence; Córdoba Spain
| | - L. Reguillo
- Animal Health Department; Veterinary Faculty; University of Cordoba; Campus Universitario de Rabanales; Agrifood Campus of International Excellence; Córdoba Spain
| | | | - F. Cardoso-Toset
- Animal Health Department; Veterinary Faculty; University of Cordoba; Campus Universitario de Rabanales; Agrifood Campus of International Excellence; Córdoba Spain
- CICAP - Agrifood Research Centre; Córdoba Spain
| | - C. Tarradas
- Animal Health Department; Veterinary Faculty; University of Cordoba; Campus Universitario de Rabanales; Agrifood Campus of International Excellence; Córdoba Spain
| | - A. Maldonado
- Animal Health Department; Veterinary Faculty; University of Cordoba; Campus Universitario de Rabanales; Agrifood Campus of International Excellence; Córdoba Spain
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